All eyes are on country music hottie Miranda Lambert as she comes into her own as country music’s next big superstar woman. Lambert has had astounding success lately with accolades for her song writing (Over You won her a song of the year honor) and Female Artist of the year wins.

How will Lambert top such success? She also has to stand beside the jaw dropping mass media success of her husband Blake Shelton who is enjoying unprecedented fame for a country star.

Lambert was born in Longview Texas (born Miranda Leigh Lambert November 10th 1983) to a musical mom and dad. Dad at least as her father Rick Lambert wrote and performed country music.

Lambert, like former tour mate Chris Young, got one of her big breaks on the now defunked TV talent show Nashville star where she ended up coming in third (Buddy Jewell became the breakout star of her season). To this day she aligns with music competition show contestants as a knowing mother figure having “been through it.”

Still her radio success has been, until recent years, slow and hard fought. Her early singles like Kerosene and Me and Charlie Talking got limited airplay (although may are revisiting Kerosene). All that changed after a few big songs like Gunpowder and Lead and more recently with The House That Built Me, White Liar, Baggage Claim and the award winning Over You (gut wrenchingly written with and about Blake Shelton’s deceased brother). She has even launched a new female vocal group and album called the Pistol Annies to strong interest.

With the recent major awards success and A List Hollywood status her house hold has just acquired thanks to Network Television attention there’s no telling where Miranda Lambert’s road will travel next. More television, another headlining tour, and perhaps a late 2013 album may be in the works. There’s will be more tweeting for sure. Follow her tweets @mirandalambert.

The 2012 Country Music Awards (CMA Awards) were handed out on Nashville and there were more than a few surprises including a biggie for Blake Shelton who rose to the top of the heap thanks to Network TV exposure. Shelton also grabbed trophys for Male Vocalist and an emotional Song Of The Year. Little Big Town won the Group Award and Taylor Swift walked away empty handed (but gracious). Check out the complete list of winners below.

Entertainer of the year: Blake Shelton

Female vocalist of the year: Miranda Lambert

Male vocalist of the year: Blake Shelton

New artist of the year: Hunter Hayes

Vocal group of the year: Little Big Town

Vocal duo of the year: Thompson Square

Single of the year: “Pontoon” – Little Big Town

Album of the year: “Chief” – Eric Church

Song of the year: Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton – “Over You”

Musical event of the year: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw – “Feel Like a Rock Star”

Two of Nashville’s hottest acts have released some high profile Holiday albums. Blake Shelton who’s star continues to rise with MAXIMUM visibility on The Voice has just released the aptly titled “Cheers, It’s Christmas.”

American Idol Scotty McCreery has just released his project “Christmas With Scotty McCreery”.

Both have the potential to sell a bunch of stocking stuffers. But who will sell more?

It’s quite possible McCreery may have the edge. His debut album “Clear As Day” surprised many with a #1 Billboard debut with minimal radio play. Since then his fan base contines to swell with a high profile tour with Brad Paisley and crafty cultivating of social media fans.

Shelton has the advantage of Major network TV facetime. He’ll have lots of chances to remind millions that his album is on shelves for shopping. There’s also a probability of an NBC Christmas special (read: hour commercial).

Which album should you get? Shelton has some star packed guest vocalists on his playlist including a sweet jingle-fied version of HOME with Michael Buble. Miranda, Reba, Kelly Clarkson, Pistol Annies, and Mom Doroth Shackelford.

Blake keeps the classics fairly simple in arrangement. No big suprises but his voice sonds especially rich on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

McCreery will surprise many with his his rich mature vocals (he just turned 19). He’s not afraid to showcase his deep Christian roots (as he did on Idol). It clearly rings true on his vocals and song choices. He’s crisp and clear perfection on “Mary Did You Know” and fun romps like the Elvis (big Scotty influence) version of “Santa Clause Is Back In Town.” Make sure you listen all the way to the end.

But if you only listen to one track make sure it’s the original “Christmas In Heaven.”

“Christmas In Heaven” has the chance to be a song that will stand the test of time and get Scotty some real radio airplay across all genres. The song is McCreery’s favorite too, so lets hope there’s a push for Holiday airplay.

Both albums will get big buzz this Christmas. Time will tell what album will out sell the other.

Blake Shelton’s latest single, “Over,” now marks his seventh consecutive No. 1 and his 12th No. 1 hit to date. Blake has not had a single peak outside the Top Ten since 2007. “Over” is the fourth single off Blake’s GRAMMY nominated album of the year, Red River Blue. When asked about “Over” Blake said, “Long before The Voice, the only place you could hear my voice was on Country Radio. I owe a lot of my success to the support of my fans and radio.”

Blake is also getting ready to release his first Christmas album, Cheers, It’s Christmas on October 2, 2012 on Warner Bros. Records. The album will feature several duet performances including fellow The Voice advisor Michael Bublé, long-time friend, Reba and a very special duet with his mother, Dorothy Shackleford. The album includes classic Christmas songs that have touched Blake over the years. Many of the tracks were also recorded at the famous Capitol Studios with full orchestral accompaniment.

“I wanted my Christmas record to be a classic-sounding album, bigger than any genre,” Blake said. “The recording process definitely took me out of my element and pushed me to really work through a lot of ideas. But in the end, what Scott Hendricks (producer) and I came up with is a classic Christmas record that I’m very proud of.”

The New York Times praises Blake Shelton as one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers.” In 2012, Blake was nominated for three GRAMMY® Awards including a nod for Red River Blue as Country Album of the Year. Off the current release, “Over,” “Drink On It,” “God Gave Me You” and “Honey Bee” have all topped the charts and “Over” marks Blake’s seventh consecutive No. 1 and his twelfth to date. Red River Blue debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan Top Current Albums chart and SoundScan Top Country Albums chart with the Associated Press calling the album “the best album of his career.” Blake’s infectious multi-week No. 1 hit, “Honey Bee” is his first ever digital Platinum single. He holds the record for the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist. The single held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country chart for four weeks in a row with over 40 million in audience. No country artist has held this record in almost six years.

The new remake of Footloose will have some country swagger when it hits theaters this Fall. The Footloose Soundtrack – that will be released September 27th – has a good representation of twang. Including Nashville’s star of the moment Blake Shelton singing the iconic theme song. The film is set for an October 15th release and features a sexy Julianne Hough as Ariel – the minister’s daughter.

The Soundtrack features eight new songs as well as the remakes. Julianne, still growing her music career on Mercury records, is not featured singing in the film or soundtrack

Julianne Hough

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Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes join the album with the movie’s love theme, “Almost Paradise.” The cast for the soundtrack has new music from Big & Rich, Cee Lo Green, David Banner, Whitney Duncan, Lissie and Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band. Other classic songs featured on the album are “Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Jana Kramer.

About “FOOTLOOSE”Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment present a Dylan Sellers Zadan / Meron Weston Pictures Production of a Craig Brewer Film. Footloose stars Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Andie MacDowell and Dennis Quaid. The film is directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay by Dean Pitchford and Brewer and Story by Dean Pitchford. It is produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Dylan Sellers and Brad Weston. The executive producers are Timothy M. Bourne, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Jonathan Glickman.

Blake has it going on. Reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and country music’s most interesting man (Have you seen the funny vids at http://bit.ly/mostinterestingman), Blake Shelton, continues his wave of success with his new Warner Bros. Records release, Red River Blue as the largest selling album in the U.S.

Red River Blue #1 Debut

This amazing debut comes hot on the heels of a string of No. 1’s which include: Soundscan Top Current Albums chart, Soundscan Top Country Albums chart, iTunes Overall Albums Chart, iTunes Country Albums Chart and his multi-week insatiable hit “Honey Bee.” The single is the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist. Red River Blue is the highest digital percentage for Shelton with almost 30% of his album sales and marks his highest selling album debut to date. This success also comes at a time when Blake is enjoying a new marriage to Miranda Lambert and TV success on The Voice.

Chris Young also hit with his third release last week with 70 some thousand copies. Good for second in Country.